you put a republican at the pentagon in a time you're trying to slink thrink the pentagon. the president thinks that will help. and the president's not afraid to pick a fight with some republicans. i think if you look at both of them and add in senator kerry, the new secretary of state, it's a comfort leave. you're not worried about satisfying every political interest group. you want people you like and you trust. >> you heard ari fleisher, our cnn contributor, the former bush white house press secretary say for all practical purposes, and i'm paraphrasing him now, hagel really isn't a republican anymore. >> well, this is a great divide and a great debate in the republican party. would he say the same about dick lugar, a respected republican voice? would he say the same about colin powell who served reagan and george h.w. bush and then george w. bush in republican white houses? thought himself about running for the republican nomination for president one day. who have views like chuck hagel. in the last 10 year, there's been as if na fascinating divid. chuck hagel would fit